Anatomy of the Lungs

Question 1

location, pleura line + general info

Answer 1

• Located in thoracic cavity; sep by mediastinum.
• Pleura line = is the tissue that lines the thoracic cavity
  
  • outer surface of lungs (visceral pleura)
  • inner surface of thoracic wall (parietal pleura)
• Pleural membranes produce fluid that acts as a lubricant = pleural fluid (is only a little bit but enough)
  General info:
• The base of each lung rests on the diaphragm
• The apex projects to a point superior + posterior to the clavicle.
• The costal surface is in contact w/ the ribs.

Question 2

Lung lobes + fissures

Answer 2

• Each lung is subdivided into lobes.
• Right lung is larger - has three lobes
  
  • Superior
  • Middle
  • Inferior
• Left lung has two lobes
  
  • Superior
  • Inferior

Fissures: fold b/w each lobes
- Pleura come down + line the fissures

Question 3

Bronchopulmonary segments

Answer 3

• The lobes are divided into bronchopulmonary segments.
  Each is supplied by:
  
  • a tertiary bronchus
  • a pulmonary artery branch
  • a pulmonary vein branch
    + surrounded by connective tissue.
• Individual bp segments can be surgically removed

Importance:

• Stand alone segments = importance = can be surgically removed (e.g. if have lung cancer = don’t have to remove whole lung)
• ALSO each area of the lung requires a dif position for postural drainage (allowing gravity to help drain mucus from the lungs)